Badminton 3D testing at Centre of Excellence

In October 2017, Qualisys motion capture was used for intensive and unique testing, of badminton players, at The Centre of Excellence (COE) in Holbæk, Denmark.

Aalborg University visited Stenhus Gymnasium where the center is located to perform tests on the COE players.

In badminton, as in many other sports, there is focus about understanding minute details of technique and training to improve performance. Often there can be a feeling of a right way to do things but it is very hard to quantify small changes and features of success. With Qualisys motion analysis, this is possible.

The focus of the tests was a new product called Spraino® that is designed to prevent ankle sprains, but also the center of mass and whether the height influences the speed of badminton players.

Reflective markers were attached to the player’s body. Qualisys cameras track and register the complex movement of the markers and translates them into an extremely accurate, computer-generated 3D wire frame model that show the way the body moves on court, on a computer screen.

Multiple tests where done during the week which are currently being analysed but the new information gained in these initial tests can already start to inform individual training programs.

“Having done numerous out-of-the-lab measurements with Qualisys, outdoors and indoors, I am fascinated by the resolution of the Oqus 7 cameras. Tracking worked immediately such that we could show the 3D animations to the players shortly after the recordings. This offers incredible opportunities for athlete feedback which is of high importance on all levels but maybe more so for elite players as we tested them here. I am looking forward to our next off-campus testing session.”

Uwe G. KerstingProfessor, PhD at Aalborg University

Other voices about Qualisys:

“I like the fact that Qualisys AB helped to make this badminton testing possible by providing cameras and equipment. We have an extremely talented group of players that we will try to develop as much as we possibly can prior to the 2020 Olympics. Hopefully this testing-collaboration gives us the technological advantage to further increase their development.”

“The 3D motion capture system makes it possible to investigate the legwork during the badminton-specific speed test on a whole new level. This helps us improve the on-court movement of the badminton players and evaluate badminton specific movements objectively and with incredible precision.”

Christian Møller Madsen
Head Coach and Manager at Stenhus Badminton College (Inventor of the Badminton Speed Test)